Cousin, sibling or enemy?

Today Annie allowed young Jack onto her bed while she was in it. They are not quite touching, although Jack has taken possession of Annie’s tail. Annie regards him as a bit of a pest but about the equivalent of a cousin.

If she accepted him as a little brother she would allow him to cuddle up much closer and maybe even groom him. Perhaps it’ll come to that over the next few weeks – or perhaps not…. After all they’ve only known each other for 10 days.

She plays with him but spends most of the day watching he doesn’t come any closer. He is tolerated.

At home my daughter’s tabby, Isabella, affectionately known as Fizzy Izzy by her staff, regards him with open hostility. He cowers when he sees her and she thinks nothing of giving him a good swipe to keep him in his place. It’ll be many months, if ever, before she tolerates him in the same room.

We hope that Isabella won’t show signs of anxiety. In the past she has over-groomed and urinated on the curtains when she has been unhappy. If she does we will plug in a Feliway diffuser or put some Zylkene natural calming supplement in her food.